Kinetics of the electrochemical evolution of isotopically enriched gases. Part 1.—18O16O evolution on platinum in acid and alkaline solution

A method is described which follows, by mass spectrometry, the kinetics of 18O16O evolution from an electrode surface enriched with 18O. The kinetics on a platinum surface in acid and alkaline electrolyte were consistent with a mechanism of oxygen evolution which involves successive oxidations on a single platinum atom. The total number of platinum sites responsible for oxygen evolution was less than the total number of atoms at the surface.